I own a small business and I refuse to have credit cards. I hate paying the interest rates. The same goes for around home. The only expenses I have are utilities. Everything is paid for with cash/debit card.

I own a small business and I refuse to have credit cards. I hate paying the interest rates. The same goes for around home. The only expenses I have are utilities. Everything is paid for with cash/debit card.

I opted to get economical little things for everyone this year. But I put a lot of thought into my gifts. They may be small and inexpensive, but they were still nice things. I spent a lot of time looking for the right gifts. They had to be inexpensive but nice.

I did splurge on a few special people though. Like my best friends etc.

Congratulations to all the sensible people here. My family is another one that doesn't give/get many gifts. We don't like wasting money buying stuff that might not be exactly what the other person wants -- and all that shopping and pressure ruins the season.

So I just gifts for my 2 nieces and 1 nephew who are still children and they get me something. The adults just don't buy/receive any gifts from each other -- and focus on having a nice family get-together.

We joke about it and say things like, "If you see something you really want out there for less than $50 ... buy it forself and say it's from me. I'll do the same."

We drew names and only bought a gift for that person. I will be doing a Christmas fund next year with my bank. This way it will make gift giving a lot easier at the end of the year. Anyway, it's not about giving gifts, but enjoying time with your love ones.

I got laid off in June, so it was a very lean Christmas this year. And you know what? It was awesome. I didn't rack up credit card debt for the first time in I don't know HOW long, and the focus was on getting together and spending time with each other instead of finding the biggest most extravagant gift. I love it!

JULIA1154
Posts:
1,783
12/28/12 8:44 P

I wish more people would give themselves that gift. I'm always shocked when I read how much families spend (or plan to spend) on gifts, 90% of which will be outdated by next Christmas.

In our house we don't exchange Christmas gifts. People are often aghast at that revelation but I'm too old to care what anyone thinks and my bank account is better off for it. There were some very lean years in the past that taught us where the priorities should lie. Instead we concentrate on our family gathering, spending wonderful, stress-free time with our two married daughters and with friends. It may not work for everyone but for us, it's great!

I am happy to say no debt after Christmas this year. It wasn't all due to discipline on my part, I was forced to file bankruptcy in spring due to my husband getting a 9 percent decrease in pay last December. A nine percent pay cut all at once is very devastating especially to a one income family. My niece did the work she is a bankruptcy lawyer, so she did not charge us a dime thank goodness! Rather help or not, it feels great to know I am not in debt after the holidays. Everything I bought was bought with cash :)

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